“A colourful house, a monkey, and a horse” – Pippi Longstocking isn't the only one with these mascots; these two animal friends also feature in the mascot history of Hannover 96. The club has been supported by many different animals in the past, including a monkey and a horse.
A German Shepherd was the first character to support the Lower Saxony team from the sidelines. His successor was somewhat smaller and named „Popo.“ „Popo“ was a capuchin monkey kept on a leash – and was one of the few of his kind to experience the football action so closely. To complete the Pippi Longstocking analogy, a pony accompanied the 96ers in the 1970s and was also the last real animal to be used as an atmosphere-booster in the Hannover stadium. With the advent of today’s mascots, the wire man „VicTOR“ and the wolf „Hanno“ further energised the fans and the team.
Since 2013, „EDDI“ – a brown bloodhound – has been the mascot of Hannover 96. He has already experienced promotions and relegations – and this season, he follows every home game from close range.
Only one defeat in the last five games shows why Christian Titz’s team is currently competing at the top of the table. Eight points from the last five games is a respectable return for „Die Roten“ (The Reds), especially considering they faced two top-five teams, Schalke and Elversberg. With 50 points in the league so far, the team from Lower Saxony sits in fifth place, level on points with Darmstadt. Here’s the record from the last five games:
| Match | Result | Points |
| SV Elversberg (H) | 1:1 | 1 |
| Eintracht Braunschweig (H) | 1:0 | 3 |
| FC Schalke 04 (A) | 2:2 | 1 |
| SpVgg Greuther Fürth (H) | 1:2 | 0 |
| DSC Arminia Bielefeld (A) | 1:0 | 3 |
| Top Scorer | Top Assists |
| Benjamin Källman – 13 Goals | Noel Aseko – 6 Assists |
| Daisuke Yokota – 4 Goals | Maurice Neubauer – 4 Assists |
| Noel Aseko – 3 Goals | Enzo Leopold – 4 Assists |
| Enzo Leopold – 3 Goals | Mustapha Bundu – 3 Assists |
| Hayate Matsuda – 3 Goals | Maik Nawrocki – 3 Assists |
Christian Titz
Head coach of Hannover 96Tiki-taka, long balls, counter-attacking play, or the simple one-two pass. All these tactics require one thing: getting the ball safely from one player to another! Put simply: passing. And Hannover 96’s pass completion rate is an excellent indicator. 85.9 percent of all passes from Titz’s team find their target – the best in the league. Hannover also enjoys a high percentage of possession (56.3 percent), more than any other team in the league.
A quick one-two, a dribble through three opponents, to the edge of the penalty area, and a shot – the ball flies towards the far corner, shouts of „Goal!“ erupt, but the ball doesn’t go in. Nahuel Noll makes another save, as he has so often this season. He has already kept nine clean sheets this campaign, consistently proving himself a reliable last line of defence for his team. Only three other goalkeepers have managed more clean sheets this season.
The 23-year-old spent his youth at 1860 Munich and TSG Hoffenheim. He is still under contract with the latter and is currently on loan at Hannover 96. He previously gained considerable second-division experience last season, also on loan at Greuther Fürth. Noll’s future in the summer remains uncertain, but his focus is currently on Hannover. “I feel very comfortable in Hanover and am 100 percent focused on the job here. And once we’ve all done our jobs and played the season, then we can talk about everything in the summer,” Noll explained in an interview with the Bild newspaper.
The goalkeeper is now not only shining between the posts, but also with the ball at his feet. It’s clear that he’s involved in the team’s build-up play. Nevertheless, he’s not afraid to send the ball on a long, long run. He probably fondly remembers the first-half match against Bielefeld: Hannover 96 not only won, but also benefited from an assist by Noll that led to the equaliser. Only one other goalkeeper has managed an assist this season: Marcel Schuhen. The two will face each other in the match on Saturday (April 11th/8:30pm).
On Sunday, the Lilies face a challenge in Baden: for the 8th matchday, SV Darmstadt 98 travel to take on Karlsruher SC. At the pre-match press conference, our head coach discussed the squad situation, the qualities of the opposition, and the team's motivation to get back to winning ways on the road.
On Sunday (October 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. KSC has a history that extends well beyond the confines of German football: the club from Baden once caused a stir on the European stage, writing a chapter that is still remembered today. But how did KSC manage to step into the international spotlight, and what made this success so special?
The next away match is coming up: this Sunday (October 18th, 1:30pm), the Lilien will visit Karlsruher SC for the 8th matchday of the 2. Bundesliga. As always, you can find all the essential information regarding travel and your visit to the stadium in the fan guidelines.
SV Darmstadt 98 invites all its members to come to the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor on November 1st, 2026, starting at 11:30am. Together, we aim to once again create the largest team photo in our club’s history—with the professional players in the front and the entire Lilies family behind them.
On Sunday (Oct 18th), SV Darmstadt 98 will visit Karlsruher SC. The side from Baden differs from the Lilies in several key respects. Furthermore, the match will see SV 98 cross paths with a former player once again. Find out here about other connections between the two clubs, as well as some particularly interesting statistics ahead of the encounter.
On Tuesday evening (October 13th), the SilberLilien took part in SV Darmstadt 98’s Stolperstein tour for the first time. Along the approximately six-kilometre route, the participants made several stops to learn more about the fates of Jewish club members who were persecuted and driven out during the Holocaust.
From new grassroots sports offerings and a look back at the club's history to birthdays and the latest updates from the media briefing—there is plenty to report from SV Darmstadt 98 again this week. In "Lilien Across the Board," we round up the news, insights, and stories from life at the club.
Tickets for the home match against 1. FC Heidenheim on November 22nd are available for purchase now.
SV Darmstadt 98's U21 team proved their mettle at home against KSV Hessen Kassel II in the Hessenliga on Sunday (Oct. 11th). After a convincing 90-minute performance, the Young Lilies secured another three points, finishing with a decisive 4–0 victory that lifts them to sixth place in the standings.
The Lilies overturned an early deficit to celebrate a 3–1 home victory against Energie Cottbus—a win that boosts confidence and confirms the progress being made. Read our analysis to find out why there is still work to be done and what positives SV 98 takes away from the match.
This season, too, Lilien fans will be doubly rewarded for every home goal scored by SV Darmstadt 98. In addition to the joy and excitement of the goals, the team's supporters will receive 98 litres of Krombacher Pils for every home goal scored by Darmstadt at the Merck-Stadion am Böllenfalltor.
After the international break, Darmstadt 98 returned to the Bölle with a home win! Against Energie Cottbus, SV Darmstadt 98 put on a spirited performance in front of their home crowd and rewarded themselves with three points after an intense match. We've compiled the post-match reactions for you here: